(Oct. 16, 2018) This month, the administration named a refugee resettlement goal that is the historically lowest number ever (only 30,000)–despite the highest number of global refugees than ever before!

(Sept. 2018) Please join our Disciples General Minister & President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens, as we continue to #Pray4Refugees that the US will #Welcome75K refugees for resettlement next year. “Our country has always been a beacon of hope and opportunity, and we do not want to see that light go dim for so many,” Rev. Hord Owens reminds us. (Watch her video below, and see additional #Pray4Refugees videos from other Disciples Regional Ministers and leaders here.)

CALL!: Senate and House Judiciary Committee members play a key role in deciding, together with the President, the number of refugees to be resettled by the US each year. This decision is made annually before the end of September. See here a list of all relevant Judiciary Committee members’ and leaders’ phone numbers and Twitter contacts. Contact them to share your support for refugees!

WHAT TO SAY: See here a sample phone call Script and sample Tweets for contacting your Judiciary leaders to urge their support for at least 75,000 refugees to be resettled in FY2019.

Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries sponsors and speaks at a White House Press Conference on September 12 to urge that 75,000 refugees be resettled in the U.S. over the next fiscal year, beginning October 1st. See coverage here.

“The courts have spoken yet again in favor of justice and humanity. As CWS has maintained since January, President Trump’s ill-advised travel ban should never have been put into place at all. Americans across the country stand firmly against this un-American executive order, which further jeopardizes refugees’ safety, alienates us from our global allies, and compromises American leadership at time of heightened instability.

“We renew our call on all of our elected officials to do everything in their power to denounce Trump’s Muslim and refugee ban and stand against any proposal that would dismantle refugee resettlement. Advocates nationwide will not back down until this takes place—nothing less will do.

“As we approach World Refugee Day and celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month this June, CWS continues to stand in unyielding solidarity with our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters that make our country truly great.”

Since 1946, Church World Service has supported refugees, immigrants and other displaced individuals, in addition to providing sustainable relief and development solutions to communities that wrestle with hunger and poverty. Learn more about our work and join our global homebase for refugee solidarity at GreaterAs1.org. Read CWS’ past press statements pertaining to the refugee and Muslim ban here.

4th Circuit Federal Appeals Court Upholds Block on Trump’s Travel Ban

Virginia Disciples Jennifer Larson and mother, with other faith partners, at the 4th Circuit court hearing in Richmond, VA. on Dec. 8th)

The Disciples RIM Staff celebrates the 4th Circuit Appeals Court ruling in Richmond, Va. on May 25 that upheld a lower court ruling which had barred the administration from suspending visas to individuals from 6 primarily Muslim countries; including Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The 4th circuit has said that it was “unconvinced” that the order “has more to do with national security than it does with effectuating the president’s proposed Muslim ban.”

The White House claimed it had the authority to issue the order based on the president’s powers to limit certain immigrants. The 4th Circuit ruling also noted that even though “Congress granted the president broad power to deny entry to aliens,” nonetheless they ruled that this “power is not absolute.”

Learn more about Asylum Seekers, and How You Can Help by going here: https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/missions-advocacy/refugee-immigration-ministries/immigrants/ Rev. Terri Hord Owens joined other national faith leaders this morning…